MacDonald of Clanranald (1914)

[Domehead]

This is why deconstructionists stick strictly within the confines of text exposing trace.
Down with Historic, Autobiographic, Biographic or Agro-Martial Sociolinguistic context muckin' up the works! (he said, slowly withdrawing the tongue from his cheek).
I'm returning to the back of the room, now.

Seriously, I am of the opinion that the deconstructive research approach dovetails nicely with text based tartanology, for this very reason. Certain individuals, such as Mr. MacDonald, M.A.C. Newsome, James D. Scarlett, Donald W. Stewart & Progeny, can use different research methods due to proximity and access to material many of us can only dream of.

However, these circumstances should only change the nature of "education" one can achieve. It is possible to arrive at very similar conclusions so long as one is comfortable "peeling back layers of onion, finding no core". This is the nature of tartanology. Everything is based on a preponderance of evidence, revealed most linearly & logically, achieving much greater understanding, but ultimately ensuring a new bank of inquiry.

Just my thoughts on how I approach this field and this brilliant conversation you've been having.
Thanks to you both, by the way.
Ryan